Portable hand pump for evacuation of fluids

Abstract

A manually operable pump for the effective removal of fluids to include blood, blood clots, fluid, and air from a body cavity of a subject is provided. The manually operable pump is adapted to be connect to a range of fluid conduits and is equipped with one-way valves that effectively permit flow of fluid through the pump in only one direction. The sensitivity of the one-way valves is such that when properly positioned, fluid can flow through the valves and out of the pump without manual compression of the pump and with the aid of gravity power alone.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of removing fluid from a plural space of a body cavity of a subject, comprising:
 attaching a manually operable pump to a proximal end of an implanted catheter, the manually operable pump in fluid communication with a fluid receptacle via an inflow conduit comprising a pleural evacuation tube for removing fluid from the plural space; 
 generating a negative pressure via the manually operable pump to initiate fluid flow from the body cavity toward the fluid receptacle; and 
 positioning the manually operable pump to flow fluid from the body cavity to the fluid receptacle such that all power for fluid flow is provided by gravity. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a negative pressure comprises compressing a pump body interposed between two one-way valves to initiate unidirectional fluid flow from the body cavity to the fluid receptacle.